MADRID – Cristiano Ronaldo scored a sensational hat-trick as Real Madrid twice came from behind to defeat Villarreal 4-2 on Sunday to maintain their perfect home record and close to within two points of leaders Barcelona.
Portuguese star Ronaldo took his season’s tally to 22 league goals with strikes in the eighth, 44th and 78th minutes after third-place Villarreal had threatened an upset after twice going in front in a pulsating first half at the Santiago Bernabeu. Barcelona’s 4-0 win over Deportivo La Coruna Saturday had put the pressure on Real to respond.
Villarreal twice took the lead only for Ronaldo to pull Real back into the game with his 20th and 21st league goals of the season to cancel out goals from Ruben Cani, after six minutes, and Marco Ruben in the 17th. In the second half, Ronaldo again took centre stage putting Real ahead in the 78th minute after a mistake from goalkeeper Diego Lopez before Brazilian substitute Kaka celebrated his return to fitness with his first league goal of the season minutes later. In other matches, Valencia bounced back from that cup setback with a 1-0 derby win over Levante to move three points ahead of fifth-placed Espanyol.
Spanish international winger Juan Mata missed a 26th minute penalty but made amends with an 82nd minute winner to clinch the three points.
Espanyol got over their recent blip with a comfortable 4-0 home win over Real Zaragoza at the Cornella-El Prat on Sunday to boost their Champions League hopes and stay in touch with fourth-placed Valencia.
